DC Comics' 'Superman' solicits for December 2013

Here are DC Comics's solicitations for all of the "Superman" group books being released this December...

SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #3
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
1:25 Variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:100 B&W Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Zod unleashed! Can Superman and Wonder Woman stop this madman before he gains full power under the Earth’s yellow sun? Guest-starring the JLA, and featuring a shocking conclusion that could mean the end of Superman and Wonder Woman together!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.







SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #6
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Backup story art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
1:300 B&W Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS“We Can Be Heroes” Blank variant cover available
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
 The Man of Tomorrow and the Superman of yesterday go at it—no holds barred! Supes goes full throttle after his would-be ally, Wraith, in a seismic battle ranging from deep space to the ocean’s floor and ultimately the core of the earth! Meanwhile, Lois Lane holds the key to defeating Ascension, but she needs to reach the Fortress of Solitude to ensure its safekeeping—not to mention hers! And she’s being pursued by a heavily armed force, and it isn’t Ascension!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.


ACTION COMICS #26
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by AARON KUDER
On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
All hell breaks loose as Superman is caught between an alien menace and the super-powered soldier the U.S. Army has sent to kill it!












SUPERMAN #26
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by KENNETH ROCAFORT
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
1:25 B&W Variant cover by KEN LASHLEY
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In the aftermath of “Krypton Returns,” a distraught Man of Steel returns to find that the Parasite is back—and he is very hungry. First on the menu: Lois Lane!











SUPERGIRL #26
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art by YILDIRAY CINAR and RAY McCARTHY
Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI and CAM SMITH
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 Following the stunning conclusion of “Krypton Returns,” Supergirl arrives back on Earth with a new mission and a clearer understanding of her place in the universe. But a striking new foe prepares to welcome Supergirl home: LOBO! What could the mysterious new character want from Supergirl? Find out as the hot new creative team of writer Tony Bedard (GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS) and artist Yildiray Cinar (EARTH 2) launch Supergirl into the next stage of her life in the DC Universe!




 SUPERBOY #26Written by
 FRANK HANNAH and MARV WOLFMAN
Art by ANDRES GUINALDOCover by RAFA SANDOVAL
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 Lost in time with the Teen Titans, Superboy comes to some startling revelations about his origins and future! Can he and the team rescue Kid Flash and find the way back to their own era?











BATMAN/SUPERMAN #6
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:100 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US Throughout the cosmos, one name commands respect and fear above all others. That name is MONGUL, and the world-conquering despot has his eyes set on Earth! And unless Batman and Superman can take down the mad, monstrous might of Mongul, the whole world will suffer!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.





I'm really excited to see what Marv Wolfman's going to do with the Superboy series when he takes over, you don't have to know much comics history to know he's a comic book legend, especially if you're a Teen Titans fan, he  helped creat Raven, Cyborg, Starfire, Tim Drake and loads more. I wrote a bit more about this here.

(Source: DC Comics)

DC Comics' Superman solicits for November 2013

DC yesterday released their solicitations for November of this year, previewing what the characters of their fifty-two New 52 series are doing in three months time. Today, I have been posting them here, so far I've posted the Batman, Dark Edge, Green Lantern and Justice League solicits, now it's time for the Superman group. Check them out below!


ACTION COMICS #25 Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by AARON KUDER
On sale NOVEMBER 6 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
This BATMAN: ZERO YEAR tie-in features the reintroduction of a major character! A cocky young Superman battles the forces of nature to save Gotham City, while a woman from his past tries to do the same thing on a smaller scale. But both are headed for a collision course...

SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #2 Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
1:25 Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS
1:100 B&W Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
On sale NOVEMBER 13 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Whom the gods destroy, first they piss off! Seeking help against Doomsday, Diana turns to her brother Hephaestus for weapons—but a more immediate threat is Apollo and the other gods. They do not approve of Superman as a consort to Diana, and he will have to prove himself in combat!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #5 Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Backup story art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
1:300 B&W Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
On sale NOVEMBER 20 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with eleven covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Superman and Wraith form an alliance to rescue a hostage and strike at the heart of Ascension, but the mission goes awry when it becomes clear the Man of Tomorrow and the soldier from beyond the stars have very different methodologies—and objectives! Plus, secrets are revealed about Wraith’s people!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

SUPERBOY #25 Written by SCOTT LOBDELL and JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by ROBSON ROCHA
Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale NOVEMBER 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“KRYPTON RETURNS,” and our heroes have been sent on missions through Krypton’s history to stop H’El from dooming the universe! Superboy’s mission? Stop H’El from tampering with the history of Krypton days before its explosion. But he must also see to it that Kara Zor-El is kept safe and that the forces of the Eradicator don’t get him first.

SUPERGIRL #25 Written by SCOTT LOBDELL and MICHAEL ALAN NELSON
Art by PAULO SIQUERIA
Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale NOVEMBER 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“KRYPTON RETURNS” continues as Supergirl faces the clone wars of Krypton. Just as she was starting to accept Superboy’s clone origins, she faces the horrible past of her home planet. And she must once again face H’El.









SUPERMAN #25 Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
1:25 B&W Variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale NOVEMBER 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“KRYPTON RETURNS” concludes! Months before its explosion, Superman finds himself locked in combat against H’El! Can he find a way to save the planet? A most unexpected foe stands in his path: Jor-El! A hero will fall during this epic adventure!

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #5 Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 Variant cover by JON BOGDANOVE
1:100 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale NOVEMBER 6 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
When the new Toymaster uses a secret, potentially deadly element in his new video game, the characters created by players manifest in real life! The ultimate fighting game results—and a world-wide network of players must team up to create the most powerful, skilled Super Heroes imaginable with one goal: To kill Batman. Can Superman come to the rescue before the game claims its victim? Find out in this amazing issue that’s printed in a special horizontal storytelling format.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.


(Source: Newsarama)


It seems a little too soon to have another Superman crossover when the last (H'el on Earth) didn't finish all that long ago, and especially the fact that it revolves around the same villain. Seeing Superboy, Supergirl and Superman on Krypton before it's destruction should be interesting, however.

Also, I'm really looking forward to seeing what Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder can do on Action Comics. Pak's killing it on Batman/Superman right now and that Kuder cover for #25, above, looks absolutely brilliant.

Review: Superman Unchained #1

This series was always going to be good. I mean, it's written by the current "Batman" scribe, Scott Snyder, who has written some of the best stories in the New 52, let alone Batman ones, and pencilled by Jim Lee, who is one of the greatest artists in comics. I went into this series with huge expectations and when I'd finished, I was blown away by it!

I'm determined not to spoil anything in this review, but the ending is genius. Scott Snyder takes a huge historical event and builds it perfectly into this story, and although that method can be used quite a lot in comic books, Snyder pulls it off really well, and it fits into the story brilliantly. He's setting up a really interesting plot, that is turning into a huge mystery, the premise of that aspect alone has me hooked.

Reading through this issue, I realised that these are the best portrayals of Superman and his entire supporting cast in around two years, Snyder has got these characters spot on, and these are what I see as the definitive portrayals of these characters, he wrote everyone perfectly, especially Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.

One of the thing Scott Snyder does well is having the characters explain events from their childhood and tie them to the current events in the hero's life. He does it all of the time in "Batman" and having Superman compare the trip from outer space back to earth to one of his childhood games from Smallville was a great scene.

Now to the art. I was expecting Jim Lee's pencils in this issue to be brilliant, and they were. Seriously, I don't know how he does it, but Jim Lee is one of the best artists in modern comic books, and I feel that with every issue he draws, he improves. This issue has amazing art, and that is not an exaggeration, and that four page, two-sided fold out... Just brilliant.

However, part of the fold-out is my only problem. It's nothing on the part of the creative team: The writing on the pages was great, the art was great, but how it was organised was stressful. When folded up, the pages had glue to keep the corners together, which then left marks on the page, and it just felt badly laid out.

This is a brilliant issue, truly outstanding, and I can't wait to read more of it.

Rating: 9/10

DC Comics reveal Jim Lee's "Superman Unchained" two sided in-issue poster

Today seems like a good day for teasing Superman stuff. First, we had a new trailer for the upcoming Man of Steel movie and now DC have treated us with some interior pages by Jim Lee for next week's Superman Unchained #1.The poster is 4 pages big on each side, meaning you have to turn it around to see the whole thing. Well, without further ado, here they are:

                                                                   

Or here's a more helpful view of how the poster works from Scott Snyder's Twitter:

 

 

Superman Unchained #1 by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee hits stores on June 12th from DC Comics.

 

 

 

DC Comics release eight new Superman Unchained variants

Today DC Comics have ( through USA Today ) released eight new variant covers for the upcoming Scott Snyder and Jim Lee series, Superman Unchained. Each cover is based on a different era of Superman's history with each by a different artist, and they're all pretty good. Look out for the Mullet of Steel by Dan Jurgens!

Here are the eight covers, which I think I've organised chronologically, the best I could anyway...

1930s Superman by Bruce Timm

Golden age Superman by Dave Johnson

Silver age Superman by Garcia Lopez with Trish Mulvihill

Bronze age Superman by Neil Adams and Alex Sinclair

Superman Reborn by Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund and Alex Sinclair

Modern age Superman by Jerry Ordway with Alex Sinclair

Superman VS Lex Luthor by Lee Bermejo 

New 52 Superman by Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund and Andrew Dalhouse

That last one's my favourite!